Comment by austin-cheney
2 years ago
No. It over simplifies what is happening to the point of drawing false correlations. Low serotonin production is strongly linked with low dopamine production but the reverse is less clear. More direct to this conversation sugar and caffeine consumption addresses low dopamine directly, but this coping behavior seeks to address the results of low serotonin, not dopamine. People with low dopamine but regular serotonin also benefit equally from high sugar and caffeine intake, but are substantially less prone to seek sugar and caffeine for that purpose. In the end its about correcting for mood stimulus not task reward stimulus.
Oh I mean that makes perfect sense. You're agreeing with me. Caffeine and sugar give you dopamine. Of course those with low serotonin are likely to have low dopamine - being depressed makes you not want to do stuff. And I can also understand why being depressed would make you want comfort consumables more than being only low dopamine.